Its most
authentic translation is: "The Eternal Springtime Fist"
A common Wing Chun Martial Song:

"Wing Yin Chi
Ji - Mo Mong Hong Juk - Dai Day Wu Chun"
Translation:

(Always speak
with determination, don't forget the Han nation, for we will return in spring.)

Wing Chun Kung Fu's name is a testament to the fallen Ming dynasty, formed by
Ming Loyalist who hoped their dynasty would return in spring. Springtime
represents being reborn, and coming back to life. The word Wing can mean
chanting, humming or singing. There is another pronunciation that holds a
different significance, "Weng". It means always, or eternity. Both spellings
represent this Southern Chinese Style.

What kind of Martial Art is this?

Wing Chun
Kung Fu is a Southern Chinese style of Kung Fu. The style's techniques are
derived largely from Shaolin Snake and Shaolin White Crane. The theories and
principles are based predominantly in these two arts. However, a deeper analysis
arises the question as to whether the style also includes principles and
techniques found in other Chinese arts such as Ba Gua, Tai Chi, Hung Gar,
Southern Mantis and others.

Wing Chun is
not practiced for sport and not meant for tournaments. A Wing Chun stylist's
training will encourage better performance in an environment where rules are not
applicable.

Wing Chun
Kung Fu is meant for self defense in an unregulated environment.

In Wing Chun
One of the most prominent theories of the
style is to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in every move including the
amount of damage inflicted. One way this is achieved is by selecting vital
targets. These targets are hit to quickly win a fight as quickly as possible.

These primary targets
include, but are not limited to: Eyes, Nose, Throat, Solar Plexus, and Groin.
A strike to these zones will render the receiver stunned and/or with out the
ability to breath and see, quickly and suddenly putting the fight in your
favor.

Common
tournament rules eliminate the more lethal targets to protect the human body.
These gaps in the human anatomy are identical regardless of size, strength, or
gender. These target areas are not available in competition settings due to the
injury the athletes would suffer.

It is
important to note that we train in a some what controlled environment. We train
carefully and with great emphasis on control and safety. Controlled sparring is
practiced up to a very high level of speed and movement. Full contact sparring
is practiced with head gear, mouth piece, gloves and groin protection.

Please note.
The Wing Chun method requires a good deal of training before full contact
sparring is allowed. Also not all students are required to participate in full
contact sparring, it is left to students discretion.

So what is
the Bruce Lee connection everyones talking about?

The Bruce Lee
connection begins with a Wing Chun Sifu, named Yip Man. In 1950, Yip Man fled
main land China for Hong Kong, during the communist take over.
While in Hong Kong, Yip taught hundreds of students until his passing in
1972. Among these students was the famous Chinese actor and martial artist
Bruce Lee, Lee Jun Fan. It is well known and accepted, that Bruce Lee did not
reach mastery level in Wing Chun. As a Wing Chun expert myself, I can say that
Bruce did utilize many of its theories and techniques with quality, and
efficiency.
Most Wing Chun available in the world today can claim a direct lineage to
Grand Master Yip Man.

How far
descended is your Wing Chun, from Yip Mans Wing Chun?

I am a 5th
generation descendant of the Yip Man style of Wing Chun.

My branch on
the family tree stems from a student of Yip Man who predates the Bruce Lee era.
A sifu named Leung Sheung, who was Yip Mans first student when he arrived in
Hong Kong.

The style of
Wing Chun I teach is a precisely well rounded system, with all
footwork, handwork, reflex training, and traditional drills intact, preserving
the tradition.

It is my
opinion, that a warm up should not only warm the body, but also improve a
students strength, flexibility, balance, symmetry and their ability to calm them
selves through breath control.

Our warm up
is derived from Wing Chun techniques and traditional Yoga Postures.

2. Forms
training.

In Wing Chun
there are 6 forms to the traditional system.

There are:

3 empty hand
forms,

1 wooden
dummy form

2 weapon
forms.

The forms are
text books and are trained to program the muscle memory of the limbs. One
technique is strung together neatly with another, each teaching strategy and
structure the whole way through. When a student's form looks clean, they will
then be shown application technique, thus bringing their comprehension full
circle.

Forms
training is typically 10 min - 20 min, depending on level.

3. For the
remaining hour, time is spent working on drills and various training exercises.

Every student
follows the same training regimen in order to insure a proper foundation in the
Wing Chun method . Each student is encouraged to travel at their own pace. Some
common advice for achieving quality is to: never be in a rush. Hard work,
dedication, and most of all attendance, greatly affect the rate of advancement.

I want to
know more details about the style itself?
The Wing Chun I teach contains a large variety of training sets...

These sets include:

"Siu Lim Tao"  (Little Idea)

Our first
form, nearly all of the style's hand techniques are found in this form. Great
emphasis is placed on learning the centerline structure and proper use of Jing
within each technique. Stance and posture are simple in this form. The stance
and posture trained in this form are the base to which all other Wing Chun
stances and postures are derived from. The basic stance must be trained
diligently and held for as long as possible, building endurance over time.

"Chum Kiu"  (Seeking the Bridge, Sinking the Bridge)

Our second
form, which contains a more complicated variety of combinations than found in
the first form. These movements are based in large from the movements learned
and mastered in the first form, and cannot be taught until the first form looks
very clean.

In this form,
we work on moving the stance and changing of weight. The first kicks are also
introduced at this level, side kicks, and front kicks. Great emphasis is placed
on proper weight distribution, body unification and correct angles in turning
and stepping with the stance. This form unites and coordinates the upper body
with the lower. The name of the form symbolizes the understanding it provides
to the practitioner. Once this form has been studied and movements are clean
and smooth, a student will have great ability in closing the gap and sinking the
opponents arm bridges.

"Biu Jee"  (Thrusting Fingers)

Our third
form, and a form that was very rarely taught to outsiders of the Wing Chun
system.

Every Wing
Chun Sifu is very selective with whom they share this form with. It is a
treasure of a form, containing the more advanced hand weapons of the style.

The skill
learned in this form is for emergency only. When one is out numbered, or out
matched in size, strength and skill.

The life
saving techniques found in this form are not to be used in common sparring, as
they will leave the receiver with permanent damage and injuries that can be
permanent.

If a student
makes it to this level, they should use great caution when sharing this
knowledge, and great caution when training the techniques with a partner.

"Mook Yan Jong  (The Wooden Man)

Our
fourth form, is practiced using a very powerful training tool unique to Wing
Chun Kung fu, often referred to as a "Wooden Dummy".

The wooden
man does not move, thus forces our techniques to spill around the arms of our
opponent, rather than trying to force our way through, water through the cracks.
Proper distance in relation to the opponent and proper flanking angles are a
focus of this form. Upper body and lower body must be in unison, along with
stance and immaculate posture. Without those ingredients the form will lack a
certain quality.

The drills I
teach from day one are picked out of this form and from various techniques
elsewhere in the system.

When one has
mastered 10 or more drills they will absolutely have a jump start on the form.
In addition, mastery of the drills will super charge a students skill, often at
a much sooner level than through normal two man drills.

"Lok Dim Boon Gwan"  (6 & 1/2 Point Pole, Dragon Pole)

The fifth
form, and one of the two weapons trained in Wing Chun. This weapon is often
said to have once been a battle spear without the metal tip. It is also
believed to have been used to push along small rafts and boats in the harbors of
Hong Kong. The pole typically measures between 9 -12 feet in length, heavy at
one end and tapered to a point at the attacking end. Powerful thrusting,
dropping, circling and parrying movements are trained here as well as strong
horse stances, bracing stances and agile cat stances. If you can imagine taking
someone off a horse with this weapon, being in the front lines of the infantry,
then you will have some idea of its purpose. It is the only long range piece to
the Wing Chun system, and it is believed to have been added during the time of
the Red Junk Opera.

Grip, arm
strength and the ability to focus Jing are all trained in this form.

"Baat Cham Do"  (8 Angle Swords, Butterfly Swords)

The sixth and
final form of the style, the Wing Chun swords are the pinnacle of the system.

Here we train
to master the 8 angles of attack and how to relate our existing Wing Chun
knowledge to the edge of a blade. We begin with power training of the grip,
wrists, forearms, arms, and shoulders.

The stances
are quick and mobile, while the swords chop with incredible fury. The Wing Chun
swords are exactly like the hands, understanding of the sword techniques brings
a practitioners awareness to a new level.

Chi Gung 
(Energy Work, Cultivation)

Chi Gung is
practiced at all times in all forms. However, it is focused and found most
distinctly in the first form. Combined with Hei Gung (Breath Work) Chi Gung is
a mind intent and means of transporting energy and life force to every inch of
the body. Chi Gung training is used to cultivate health and build internal
energy. A regular regimen of Chi Gung training encourages health, blood flow
and proper electric conductivity through the bodies meridian channels.

Fon Sao Training  (Trapping Hands)

Trapping
training teaches lines of attack and defense in a close quarter situation. If
you are within hands reach, you are in trapping range. We begin this training
from a reference point just inches out side of trapping range. Wrists are
crossed and one person attacks the other.

In Wing Chun
style trapping, we point our center at the opponent in order to give both arms
an equal reach.

We parry and
attack at the same time, using counter attacking motions and off balancing pulls
to aid in taking the opponents structures away.

Trapping a
persons hands by pressing them down and pinning them to open the upper torso for
an on coming onslaught. Trapping is not sparring, and it is not true fighting,
it is merely a series of drilling methods that teach lines of attack and defense
in close range.

Dan Chi Sao  (Single Sticking Hands)

Sticking to
the opponent is one aspect of Wing Chun that sets it apart from many other
styles. We cling to the opponents limbs developing a heightened sense of touch,
or as we call it, a sensitivity.

Sensitivity
brings a student's overall skill to the next level. It seams their techniques
together and gives a polished look to all motions. At first we train sticking
hand drills with one arm at a time. Preparing our coordination and quality of
motion for the double handed exercise.

Chi Sao  ( Double Sticking Hands)

Double
sticking hands is a higher level of sensitivity training. Chi Sao begins with a
serious of rolling blocks, upper gate, lower gate, and centerline are worked all
at the same time. The triangle structures of the limbs fuse together and
spinning in harmony. One must learn what correct structure looks like before
they can learn when it is incorrect. When an opponents structure is incorrect,
one will only see and feel gaps and openings waiting to be attacked. A well
based knowledge of trapping hands is needed to begin Chi Sao training. Much of
the Wing Chun system is refined through Chi Sao and the application of its
motions.

Again, Chi
Sao is not fighting and it is not real sparring. Chi Sao is designed to build
sensitivity and is a logical next step to trapping hands training.

Chi Gurk  (Sticking Leg Exercises)

For most of
us, our legs are just about half of our body height. Our legs connect us to the
earth and our stance gives us our balance and ability to bring the upper body
into the fight. If we are kicked in the legs, the legs are used to defend.
Sticking leg exercises are not only trained in kicking range, but also fighting
stance vs. stance. We weave our steps into the stance of the opponent. We must
train to have a stable, yet supple stance, our legs must develop a sensitivity
if they are to detect oncoming footwork. Sticking legs work much like sticking
hands. Redirecting, guiding, parrying, in an effort to finally creating openings
for attack.

Kham Na  (Joint
Locking and Seizing)

Joint locking
and manipulation most often happens as a result of being grabbed. Wing Chun
employs Kham Na when a situation calls for it. Most situations require a
combination of striking and joint manipulating. Joint Manipulation is often
used as a non-lethal form of subduing an opponent.

Most Kham Na
does not work unless the opponent has been struck first. Some type of
distraction is helpful when seizing the limbs. If the technique is resisted, it
is important that we do not force them into the hold, but rather sense the
resistance and use it to flow into another controlling position.

Mui Fa Jong  (Plum Flower Poles, Footwork patterns)

The footwork
of Wing Chun originates from the Chinese plum flower.

A 5 pedaled
flower that forms many triangles in its geometry. Traditionally these are poles
planted into the ground raised to a height ranging from 2 feet to 4 feet. They
can be posted in one arrangement or several pentagonal arrangements linked
together. Footwork can be trained on top of the poles, or in between them.

Kicking the
poles when on the ground and/or isolating stepping patterns when standing on
top. These can also be drawn on a flat surface and are helpful when learning
stepping sequences and linking Wing Chun stances together.

How long
does it take to get good at Wing Chun?

If a student
is looking to defend themselves in a street fight, then typically about 6 months
of training will provide them with a good deal of skill in this area. As with
anything, the more time devoted to a skill, the greater competence we will
have.

Traditional
Shaolin kung fu requires approximately 18 years to produce a qualified warrior.
10 years of a hard style, 8 years of a soft style.

With this in
mind, the founders of Wing Chun created a compact system that could be spread
and taught with incredible speed.

The Wing Chun method was
designed to exploit the "chinks in the armor" of their enemies. In a world of
empty hand fighting, street fighting, and self defense, there is no real armor,
but rather chinks in the armor of the human body. The skeletal system and muscle
system of the human body has many gaps and weaknesses, regardless of height,
weight, age, or gender.

The points of the body the
Chinese use to heal, they also use to destroy.

The Wing Chun
system can be completed in 3-5 years. Both hard and soft are combined in this
ultra compact Chinese system. Please note that although completion of the
system can be attained with in a few years. Mastery can take a life time.